Harris-Walz Campaign Hosts Election Night Watch Party At Howard University

A DJ played “Freedom” by Beyoncé close to Frederick Douglass Memorial Hall. A crowd of Howard students, alumni, reporters and political operatives filled The Yard. Some chanted the university’s heralded call and response: “H-U, you know.”

This was the scene at the Harris-Walz campaign’s election night watch party at Howard, where Democratic nominee Kamala Harris graduated in 1986.

“You can feel the history in the air and the trees,” said Brandon Baughman, a venue promoter and creative director for the Harris-Walz campaign. “I don’t think I’ve quite grasped how significant this moment is, but I feel it.”

Before polls around the country began to close, people on The Yard appeared to be in a joyful mood. Spectators danced to Young Thug and Megan Thee Stallion. Members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., the sorority Harris joined in 1986 while a student at Howard, wore their pink and green. People sported Howard gear and Harris-Walz campaign merch. The crowd was full of Harris supporters, some of whom said they had never stepped foot on Howard’s campus before that night.

With them were student leaders, members of the Divine Nine, Howard and HBCU alumni, national and international press and students showing their support for the vice president.

A walkway and stage were built at the front entrance of Douglass Hall. On this stage, Damaris Moore, 86th Miss Howard University, sang the national anthem.

Following her performance, the Howard Gospel Choir performed, Divine Nine students strolled and President Ben Vinson III spoke.

“The buildings around you are used to teach and empower generations. Tonight our yard is open for the unity of all people,” he said.

A big screen facing Founders Library gave updates from CNN’s election night coverage. 

Cheering echoed around campus when states were projected as wins for Harris and Angela Alsobrooks won her Maryland senate race. The crowd collectively groaned when states were projected as wins for former President Donald Trump.  

Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas’ 30th District said she was on pins and needles. 

“It’s frustrating that this country would even make this into an actual race but for many months people have said this will be a tight election,” Crockett said. 

Throughout the election season, Crockett traveled to every swing state, talked to voters on the ground, and felt “confident” that the Democrats could secure another four years in The White House.

“I know without a shadow of a doubt, regardless of what happens, that we worked 20 times as hard and 1000 times more qualified than the opposition,” Crockett said. 

However, as the night went on and more results came through, the large screens showing CNN revealed how the election was slipping away from Harris. 

The mood shifted on The Yard. People began to leave.

At 12:45 a.m., Cedric Richmond, Harris’ campaign co-chair, announced that the vice president would not speak at the watch party because the campaign was awaiting results from states that had yet to be called. 

“She will be back here tomorrow to, not only address the HU family, to not only address her supporters, but to the nation,” Richmond said.

Trump won four of the seven critical swing states, including Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, securing the 270 electoral college votes needed to win. He leads in the three other swing states: Arizona, Michigan and Nevada. 

Harris won 17 states, including the District of Columbia, and is currently leading in Maine by 53 percent. However, she has only grabbed 224 electoral college votes.

Copy edited by Camiryn Stepteau